In Speaking of battle armor our first piece of equipment is The Helmet of Salvation. Picture yourself in a Roman Solider’s battle outfit, a warrior of God to battle Satan and His forces.

The helmet is used to protect the head from injury in battle. Inside of our head is our brain (mind), and our brain (mind) is the control center for all we say and most of what we do. Since the beginning of creation Satan has focused his attacks on the mind’s of men. Satan can not force us to sin, (sorry Flip Wilson) rather he must persuade us to commit sin. The mind is the control center that decides whether or not we submit to sin. If we sin we place ourselves under the power and authority of sin. (Jn 8:34)

What should we do when Satan assails our mind?

2 Cor 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

1. We are to take every thought and bring it into submission to Christ.

2. We are to tear down (not allow to be set up) thoughts that run contrary to God.

The Helmet of "Salvation" means that a new way of living and thinking has come to us. We don’t think like we used to think nor do we live as we used to live, so we are to put on the Helmet that God gave us to protect us from Satan’s influence.

Roms 12:1-2 "Renewing your mind"

Phil 2:5 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus"

Phil 4:6-7 "Think on these things"

Satan’s Tactics

Satan uses a variety of tactics against our minds. These are designed to weaken our faith, ruin our discernment and corrupt our thoughts, and set our thoughts against God. "For a sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so (Roms 8:7). Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." Satan seeks to trap us and to take us captive to do his will rather than for us to do God’s will (2 Tim 2:26). Here is a list of tactics the Devil will employ against us:

1. Seeks to deceive with false doctrine. False doctrine leads people astray from the truth. Think of all the Religions of the world that Satan has used to blind the eyes of it’s followers from the truth. False doctrine brings under bondage to lies. Satan of course is the Father of Lies.

*Smooth talk and Flattery deceive minds (Roms 16:18)

*Deceitful scheming through the cunning and craftiness (Eph 4:14)

*Trivial doctrinal disputes (2 Peter 1:16, I Tim 1:3-7; I Tim 4:7-8)

*Demons teaching false doctrines (I Tim 4:12) 2 Peter 2:1-3

I John 4:1-3 "There is a spirit of truth and a spirit of error." How can you know what is from God and what is not?

2. Distract with carnal interests: Satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden by appealing to her carnal interest. (Lust of flesh, lust of eyes, pride of life) I JN 2:15-17 ...story Gen 3:4-6

An earthly mind set weakens our devotion to God and causes us to be unfruitful for the Kingdom of God. That is why we are encouraged to" set our minds on things above" Col 3:1-2 Here are some traps of worldly carnal distractions:

Pride (Mt 16:23, Lk 4:3-13)

Cares of the world (Phl 3:19, Col 3:1-2, Matt 13:22)

Money (Mt 13:22; I Tim 6:5,10; Jn 12:2-8; Acts 5:1-11)

Sexual temptations ((Prov 6:23–29; Proverbs 7:6-27, I cor 5:1; I Cor 6:12-20, II Tim 2:22)

3. Satan seeks to poison the mind and blind us to the truth. Well timed or well placed lies can quickly find a home in our minds if we are not firmly rooted in the truth. We are especially vulnerable when we have issue like unforgiveness and roots of rejection. If we believe what the devil says to us, we are in danger of a partial or total blinding of the truth. As with false doctrine, believing such lies places us in bondage because we are unable to receive the truth that would set us free.

* Poison the mind against other Christians (Acts 14:2)

*Blind the minds of non-Christians to the truth (2 Cor 4:4)

*Corrupt the mind and conscience (Titus 1:5)

*Sear "harden" the conscience via false doctrines (I Tim 4:2)

So the Apostle Paul exhorts us to put on the Helmet of Salvation. The Helmet of Salvation is the truth of God. Satan is a liar and has been from the beginning. He wants to implant in each of our minds a seed of doubt against the truth of God that will cause you to challenge what God has said in His Word and result in disobedience. James tells us in his epistle, "When lust is conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished brings forth death." Jas :15. Satan knows that if he can get you to question and doubt God then the rest of your destruction will pretty much take care of itself. That is why we have to be "sober and vigilant" because your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. So whatever you do, protect your mind. Read the Bible, meditate on it, assimilate it into your thinking, memorize it, apply it to every day life and you will see that you will be able to cast down every thought and imagination (idea) that exalts itself against the will and truth of God.

Be a good soldier and wear your uniform! :)

God Bless All Y’all

Love in Christ Jesus,

Brother Todd